West Covina mall burglary suspects sought after theft, beating

Police are searching for two suspects who stole from the JC Penney store at the West Covina Westfield Shopping Center on February 24, 2013. The male suspect allegedly beat a loss-prevention agent.

March 12, 2013 12:00:00 AM PDT

WEST COVINA, Calif. --

A loss-prevention agent was beaten by one of two burglary suspects at the West Covina Westfield Shopping Center on February 24.

A man and a woman with a stroller brought two children into the JC Penney store at the mall on Sunday, Feb. 24. The couple began placing items from the store onto the baby stroller.

The male suspect tried on a pair of shoes and left them on his feet.

The suspects then walked to the upper level exit leading into the mall without paying for the items. The female and the children walked out first, followed a short distance back by the male suspect.

A loss-prevention agent then approached the female suspect. The male suspect ran up to the agent and punched him in the face and chased the agent back into the store. The suspect knocked him to the ground and struck him several times before running away.

The agent sustained a fractured nose, cuts, bruises and swelling of the face.

The male suspect was described as a white or Hispanic man about 20-30 years old, standing 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing between 165-185 pounds. He had a shaved head and a thin brown mustache and beard. He was wearing a black T-shirt and black pants. He has distinctive tattoos on both arms.

The female suspect was described as white or Hispanic woman about 20-30 years old, standing 5 feet 2 to 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing about 120-135 pounds, with brown or black collar-length hair. She was wearing a black sleeveless blouse, blue jeans and sandals. She had sunglasses on her head and had a small black-and-white-striped purse.

The female suspect was pushing a stroller with a toddler in it, and an elementary-school age girl with dark hair was with her.

Anyone with information about these suspects is asked to contact the West Covina Police Department at (626) 939-8557. You can also remain anonymous by calling (626) 939-8688 and leaving a message with your information on the recording.